ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – The St. Bonaventure men's lacrosse team outscored High Point 8-2 in the second half on Saturday at the Marra Athletics Complex as part of a thrilling rally to score a 10-9 victory. The feat marked the program's first-ever win over an Atlantic 10 opponent and added a memorable final touch to the team's Senior Day.
 
The Panthers (6-8, 3-2 A-10), who received votes in the national Top 20 polls this week, jumped out to an early 2-0 lead within the contest's first five minutes, though the Bonnies struck back midway through the first quarter to draw within one as Patrick Shanahan wrapped around the back of the net and tucked in a score.
 
High Point kept the Bona attack silent for the majority of the remainder of the half, however, putting up four goals of their own in the meantime.
 
By the time the Bonnies got back on the board with a Drew Kenney goal assisted by Conor Murphy, the Panthers had built up a sizable lead. The visitors took a 7-2 advantage into the break, though Bonaventure would come storming back throughout a windy second half.
 
High Point also notched the first score of the second half at the 13:30 mark in the third quarter for an 8-2 lead before the Bonnies stormed back.

Kellen Pulera kicked off the comeback for the Brown and White with a goal less than a minute later. Bonaventure rolled with the momentum through the rest of the quarter and into the final stanza.
 
Jake Kucinski netted his first goal of the game on a solo dodge, and additional scores from Pulera and Murphy saw the Bonnies slowly working themselves back into the game. Though the Panthers tallied their ninth and final goal of the game at the 5:58 mark in the third quarter and took a 9-6 lead into the final period, Bonaventure continued to roar back.
 
Pulera opened the scoring in the fourth off an assist from Kyle Pepper to give himself a hat trick, and the decibel level at the Marra Athletics Complex began to rise. Kucinski followed with two more goals of his, tying the game at nine each, marking the second Bonaventure player with a hat trick on the day, and sending the crowd into a frenzy.
 
The cherry on top came with 3:56 to play.

Just seconds prior, High Point's Zack Brenfleck was called for a pivotal slash, giving the Bonnies a man-up opportunity. They would not let this chance slip away, as the hosts began working the ball around the horn. As a feed from Kenney was batted down to the turf and High Point began to move up field to clear, suddenly Chris Lawrence battled for a key groundball. 
 
Lawrence then quickly found Pulera cutting toward the net, accompanied by only goalie Zack Overend in the crease. Pulera dove to receive the feed, and in one fluid motion, tucked in his fourth goal of the contest for a game-winning highlight.
 
The win marked program's first conference victory since joining the Atlantic 10 prior to the 2023 season.
 
Bonaventure defender Ryan Olan caused two turnovers in the contest and additionally scooped two groundballs. Isaac Farmer posted 14 saves to earn the win in the cage.
 
The contest marks the end of the 2025 season for the Bonnies, who finished 6-10 overall and 1-4 in the A-10.
 
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
St. Bonaventure honored its 15 graduating seniors in the Class of 2025 prior to the opening faceoff.
 
#4 | Anthony Cimino | A | Finance
#8 | Onenioteko:wa Maracle | A/M | Environmental Studies
#13 | Josh Rosa | M | Sports Studies
#15 | Drew Kenney | M | Marketing
#18 | Tom Fox | FO/M | Marketing
#25 | Conor Murphy | A | Marketing
#27 | Reilly DelPonte | A | Marketing
#28 | Aidan Sheehan | G | Finance
#32 | Atkin Dwyer | D | Finance
#40 | Connor Robinson | G | Marketing
#45 | Ryan Olan | D | Finance
#77 | Aiden MacDonell | D | Strategic Communications
#88 | Kellen Pulera | A | MBA
#92 | Kaden Brennan | M | Finance
 
QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH RANDY MEARNS
"Grit, determination, perseverance. I am so proud of our guys; what a way to send out our seniors with our first A-10 win. Isaac made some really key saves, our close D with freshmen Aaron Eberhard, Connor Ballou and senior Ryan Olan covered a very talented High Point attack. Our rope unit of Owen Tasse, Cameron Viavada, Blayze Becker, Kade Brennan, Henry Coke and Benny Carter were incredible in the second half."

"Our seniors Drew Kenney, Conor Murphy and Kyle Pepper were keys today and our attack unit of Kellen Pulera, Patrick Shanahan and Jake Kucinski found their rhythm. Belief and want fueled our victory today. It's a legacy game that all our seniors will remember. I am so happy for our guys and how we came back in the second half. They wanted to do something amazing and they did."
 
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